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Each year, many people lose their lives in trench collapse accidents.

Trenches are one of the most dangerous places to work in. In fact, each year, many people lose their lives in trench collapse accidents. It is unfortunate that while trench collapse deaths are easily preventable, a large number of these deaths still occur each year. Some common causes of trench related injuries and deaths are:

  • Pressures of time and money
  • Lack of supervision
  • Ignorance to safety rules
  • Laziness or general negligence

Having provided St. Louis trench shoring services on various work sites, we have realized that some sites have very poor operational and safety procedures for working in trenches. Many people do not even understand the basic safety requirements. They are supposed to provide a means of egress at a depth of 4 feet, and proper protective systems at 5 feet deep. However, many are not even aware of these basics, and they tend to compromise the safety of workers.

Most construction companies claim that safety comes first. However, all too often this is not reflect in their actions. Each year, a large number of trench collapse deaths are reported. In 2016, more trench collapse deaths were reported than the previous year. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 2016 saw more trench collapse deaths than 2014 and 2015 combined. There were 11 deaths each reported in 2014 and 2015, while there were 23 deaths in 2016. While the numbers seem shocking, they also highlight the urgent need to take appropriate safety measures.

In all these years of providing St. Louis trench shoring services, we have come to understand that trench collapses happen pretty fast and have devastating consequences. Consider this – a cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds. You can therefore imagine the amount of damage it can inflict.

In a statement released by OSHA, it was quoted that trench fatalities have more than doubled since 2015, which is an unacceptable and alarming trend. One OSHA official said, ”There is no excuse. These fatalities are completely preventable by complying with OSHA standards that every construction contractor should know.” (Source)

While the construction company is primarily responsible for the safety of all workers, it is also the responsibility of everyone else to follow proper safety practices and standards. Recently, a general contractor and foreman were convicted of criminal negligence after a laborer died in a trench collapse accident in New York. Apart from facing criminal negligence charges, companies may also have to pay huge fines. A company in Ohio had to pay more than $200,000 after a worker was crushed to death in a trench collapse last year. The company had failed to provide appropriate trench cave-in protection, failed to train employees in recognizing hazards, and failed to protected employees from excavated material rolling into a trench or falling from inside the trench walls.

Need help with your project? Call Luby Shoring Services today at (636) 660-7467.

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This system is installed for the safety of the workers and to give stability to the trench, extending its lifespan.

St Louis Shoring Services

The people who work in the construction industry are familiar with the trench box system. It is an amazing system which is installed for the safety of the workers who perform the tasks of digging and excavating. Not only this, it is also very effective in giving stability to the trench and extending its lifespan.

A Trench Box

A trench box is also known as a trench shield, sewer box, manhole box, or a tap box. It is used in the construction work. It provides stability to a trench and keeps the utility workers safe while they carry out their duties.

It is a two sided support system used in a mechanical excavation. A trench box is an important shoring equipment which is a boon for excavators. It helps to increase job safety as well as productivity.

Workers use them while they pour the foundations. They also utilize trench boxes when they have to repair a piping or wiring underground.

Trench boxes are extremely important for the construction industry. The construction of new buildings or homes requires digging and excavation of the soil. So trench boxes are indispensable for the safety of the workers on the construction sites.

The Structure Of The Trench Box System

There are two types of trench boxes – steel trench boxes and aluminum trench boxes. They are made of two plates which are known as shields. The spreaders hold them apart. The plates line the trench’s walls. The spreaders are beams which are placed perpendicular to the plates and function as braces. All the parts are welded together to make the trench box system stable.

The system is designed in such a way that the workers can get in and come out of the trench box. This is very crucial in times of an emergency when they have to get out quickly from the area.

Benefits of Using Trench Boxes

Improves the stability of the trench – A trench shoring box is very important because it helps to make the trench more stable and long lasting. In the absence of a trench box, the hole can cave-in in a matter of few seconds. A trench box system assists in keeping the hole stable and safe for many months if the type of soil, the weather conditions and the depth of the trench are suitable. It is very valuable for long term construction projects.

Provides protection to the workers – Trench and excavation work is hazardous by nature. Trench cave-ins can take place even when all the safety precautions are taken. The trench box adds an extra layer of protection for the workers. It aims at minimizing the risk of injury to the workers while doing their job. There are safety regulations to ensure that the trench boxes are used appropriately. The maximum depth at which the trench box system can be used in a safe manner is determined by the depth rating regulations.

St. Louis Shoring Services

Looking for reliable St. Louis trench shoring services? Contact Luby Shoring Services for a wide selection of custom and standard trench shielding and shoring options.

Call us today at (636) 660-7467 or fill out our online contact form.

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Maintaining the expected standards of safety are key to preventing trenching accidents.

st louis trench shoring

Trenching and shoring tasks involve a lot of hard work. As if that is not enough, the enormous chances of accidents make the job even tougher. So workers who begin excavation work must prepare themselves properly and take all the necessary precautions before they undertake the massive task.

Do Your Homework

Do not forget to do the homework before embarking on the task. Take the time to make a thorough study of the safety guidelines. Read and re-read the instructions so that you do not miss anything important. A slight mistake can be injurious to your well being. These regulations have been formulated on the basis of earlier experiences of other trench workers. Learn from their mistakes and be safe. As it is rightly said, knowledge is power. Equip yourself with all the essential knowledge to avert an accident.

Study the Ground Conditions

Study the condition of the ground properly. Try to get as much information as possible from others about the prevalent risks. This will enable you to do the job appropriately and adequately. For instance, you must be familiar with the nature of the ground, whether it is made up of sand, dirt, or a rocky mix. You need to be acquainted with the weather patterns too. Try to find out if the weather has been windy or rainy recently because these things have a lot of impact on the texture of the ground.

Use the Right Equipment

Make sure you use equipment which has been approved for the work. Such equipment can go a long way in preventing accidents as it is specially designed for excavation work. The safety equipment is made keeping in mind the depth of the trenches and the
installation methods involved. Sometimes you may be able to find videos which demonstrate how to use the equipment. You can also contact people who provide this type of equipment and get a good bargain for renting or purchasing them. It will save a lot of time and energy as those people may offer all the information you need to do the work safely.

Adopt the Right Approach

Do not be careless and overlook the risks involved in the work. Remember, prevention is key. It may be a much easier task to pay full attention to the regulations and do the work carefully than to undo the harm once it is done. Try your best to do the work in absolute conjunction with the guidelines laid down. This will save you the hassle of paying fines and facing other issues when an accident occurs. Spend some time in laying the groundwork. Take due precautions and discharge your duty safely and successfully. Aim to have zero incidents on the trenching site. Maintain the expected standards of safety and avoid accidents. It is in your best interest to hire professional St. Louis trench shoring services. This will ensure that your project goes smoothly and safely.

Call Luby Shoring Services today at (636) 660-7467.

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Safety standards have been made in order to protect workers in excavation and trenching.

st. louis shoring services

Construction jobs which involve excavation and trenching are very risky. Nearly two workers die every month and hundreds sustain injuries while performing these tasks. So specific standards have been laid down for the safety of the workers.

About Excavation and Trenching

Any depression, cut, trench, or cavity made by man in the earth’s surface by removing earth is an excavation. A trench is a narrow excavation which is made under the ground and is deeper than its width and is 15 feet wide at the bottom.

Protective Systems

A protective system is mandatory for a trench which is 5 feet or deeper. However, the excavation in stable rock may be exempted from this rule. It is obligatory for trenches which are 20 feet or more deep to have a protective system which is specifically designed for that trench by a certified engineer.

While designing the protective system the soil classification, water content of the soil, the depth of the cut, changes brought about by the weather or climate, the surcharge loads, and the other operations being carried out nearby should be kept in mind.

Some of the commonly used protective systems are:

Benching – In this the sides of the trench are cut into a number of steps or horizontal levels. There are vertical surfaces between the levels.

Sloping – Sometimes the trench wall is cut back at an angle which is inclined away from the area being dug.

Shoring – In order to prevent the soil from moving different types of supports like aluminum hydraulic are installed.

Shielding – This involves the use of trench boxes and other supports to avert soil cave-ins.

Rules to be followed while working near an excavation or trenching site:

  • Employees who work in a trench should have safe access and egress. In trenches which are dug up to 4 feet or more the ladders, ramps, or steps should be located at least within 25 feet for all workers.
  • 0Heavy equipment should be kept at a distance from the edges of the trench.
  • The excavated soil and other surcharge loads should be kept at least 2 feet away from the edges of the trench.
  • Before the workers start digging they should be familiar with the whereabouts of the underground utilities.
  • In trenches which are more than 4 feet deep, the presence of atmospheric hazards like low oxygen, dangerous fumes, and poisonous gases should be detected by conducting tests.
  • Trenches should be checked before starting the work in every shift.
  • They should also be inspected after a rainstorm.
  • In fact, the trench should be carefully checked after any occurrence which can change the conditions in the trench.
  • The workers should not perform their work under any load or material which has been suspended or raised at a height.

All this can help reduce the accidents and protect the workers from injuries. All this can be taken care of by employing services of a professional St. Louis trench shoring company.

St. Louis Trench Shoring Company

Luby Shoring was established in 2015 by Steve Luby. He grew up with construction equipment, spending summers helping in the parts department at his family’s business, Luby Equipment Services. Steve continued working in the industry and was a part of senior management in Luby Equipment’s sales department until he saw the need for expanding the shoring business.

Call Luby Shoring Services today at (636) 660-7467.

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Before undertaking any excavation work, it is important to assess and classify the soil.

st louis trench shoring

A construction project may require an excavation at the site. Before taking up any excavation work, it is important to assess and classify the soil in order to ensure the safety of the workers.

Classification of The Soil

Structural Classification – The first step in evaluating the soil involves a structural classification of the soil on the site. Soil may be granular, granular cohesionless or cohesive in nature. The granular soil has 15% of clay and silt while cohesive soil has less than 15% of clay or silt.

Type Classifications – After categorizing the soil on its structural basis it may be classified according to its type. This helps the engineers to understand the plasticity of the soil and
determine the structural support to be used.

Types Of Soils

Type A – This soil is very stable. It has to be sloped at an angle of 53 degrees or 3/4:1 ratio. That means in an excavation the sides should slope back 3/4 foot for every 1-foot depth. It is cohesive. It is unconfined compressive strength is 1.5 tsf (tons per square foot) or more. This type of soil can be benched to provide protection to the workers. For this, a stair-step is created. The soil rises vertically from the base up to 5 feet and extends 4 feet horizontally forming angles of 90 degrees on the sides. It is repeated till the top.

Clay, sandy clay, clay loam and silty clay are some examples of this type of soil.

Type B – It is less stable compared to Type A. It is very cohesive. It’s unconfined compressive strength is between 0.5 to 1.5 tsf. It has to be sloped at an angle of 45 degrees or 1:1 ratio. In an excavation after a depth of 1 foot, the sides should be sloping back 1 foot. This type of soil can be benched, vertically rising 4 feet from the bottom and extending 4 feet
horizontally forming angles of 90 degrees on the sides. This can be repeated till the top.

This type of soil includes granular non-cohesive soils like angular gravel, silt loam, silt, sandy loam, disturbed soil which is not categorized as Type C, soil which is subject to vibration or is fissured but has the unconfined compressive strength like Type A, and dry rock which is not stable.

Type C – This is the most dangerous type of soil. It has minimum stability compared to the others. It should be sloped at an angle of 34 degrees or 1-1/2:1 ratio. The angle may have to be increased depending on the water seepage or saturation. This type of soil is cohesive. It’s unconfined compressive strength is 0.5 tsf or less. Benching should not be done for Type C soil.

Granular soils like sand, gravel, loamy sand, soil from which the water seeps freely, the submerged rock which is not stable and submerged soil are included in this category.

Call Luby Shoring Services today at (636) 660-7467.

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Temporary shoring is an excellent way to provide a building with strength and minimize further damage.

temp shoring st louis

Temporary shoring is an emergency band-aid that provides a shelter for structural integrity when a building has lost its stability. Not a “fix,” it is a way to hold the problem steady until a repair can be made and it helps to stop any further insult to the building in the interim.

There are many reasons why a building might need temporary shoring, but most commonly it is necessary when:

  • There is a disaster such as a flood or fire that compromises the structural integrity of a facility, house, or building
  • If a building’s foundation is compromised through settlement and it leads to a crack in the exterior wall
  • If the walls of a building or your home start to bulge outward creating structural problems
  • When an opening in a wall becomes larger either through construction or another disaster

The benefits of hiring a temporary shoring company are that it is an excellent way to provide a building strength and to minimize the potential for further damage that can be more costly. Temporary shoring companies help by setting up walls or beams that hold the structure into place so that repairs can be made safely and without more expense than necessary.

Types of Temporary Shoring Methods

There are a number of different types of temporary shoring methods, some of these include:

  • Dead shores – Dead shores are the method that temporary shoring companies will use when vertical support is necessary. Dead shores are primarily used when most of the house or building has been damaged or removed. Being able to take on a lot of weight to maintain the structure, they are built with beams and posts to strengthen the integrity and build a firm foundation.
  • Flying shores – Flying shores are a method that shoring companies use when there are two buildings involved. If one of the buildings is being removed or demolished and rebuilt, the flying shore can help to stabilize the remaining building. Many different components go into a flying shore such as cleats, needles, horizontal shores and plates.
  • Raking shores – A raking shore is a structure that is used to support any walls that aren’t structurally sound within a building. Using cleats, needles, sole plates, inclined members, bracing and wall plates, they help to keep walls intact to minimize any damage to the existing building or structure.

St. Louis Trench Shoring

When your home or building is compromised either through disaster, old age, or from an adjacent home being renovated, it is always best to give the building the support it needs to maintain its structural integrity. Temporary shoring is an excellent way to provide the necessary tools to ensure that no more costly damage is done. Once temporary shoring is in place, it becomes safer for everyone and repairs can start.

If you are concerned about the integrity of your home’s foundation or structure, it is always best to have it evaluated by a structural engineer. If temporary shoring is needed, it can not only help to stop any more damage; it can help to expedite the repairs and get your home or building back on track.

Call Luby Shoring Services today at (636) 660-7467.

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Trench shoring is subject to a number of legal and technical requirements to guarantee safety.

 

Trench shoring is a very common technique used in underground excavation. It is needless to say that it is also one of the riskiest aspects of construction and mining work, so it should be approached with foresight and extreme caution.

To ensure that the trench shoring is installed properly and works well, you need the
right tools and a well trained crew. You can ensure this just by employing the right kind of St. Louis Trench Shoring Services. Here is some information about the legal and technical requirements of a trench shoring project.

Legal Requirements

Trench shoring, just like any other construction project, is subject to a number of legal requirements mandated by law. One such legal requirement is that any trench which is more than 5 feet deep must have shoring to ensure worker safety. The types of procedures and tools that should be implemented for any specific project is determined mainly by soil evaluation, and also by environmental factor such as transport systems, surrounding buildings, protected green zones and pipelines.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements of a trench shoring project are determined by both the project specifications and legal requirements. Soil type directly influences the types of tools that should be used and how steep and how deep a trench excavation should be.  It is important to note that safety should always be top priority or primary requirement for any construction project regardless of its complexity, budget and time frame.

Safety and Health

Safety and health is the key reason why it is important to ensure that the trench shoring is installed correctly. It is a well known fact that trenches are extremely dangerous places to work in and each year, many accidents occur causing serious injuries and sometimes loss of life.

In the entire excavation process, the actual act of excavation is the most dangerous part, so most construction workers prefer using reinforcement methods that need minimal human intervention during the process. For example, hydraulic shoring can be installed with little human involvement. No one needs to enter the trench to install hydraulic shoring.

Benefits of Hiring St. Louis Trench Shoring Services

When it comes to trench shoring, choosing the right provider can make all the difference. Proper installation ensures that the shoring provides the best possible structural support. A competent and qualified St. Louis trench shoring services contractor should oversee the complete shoring installation process in order to identify any potential risks and to prevent them from occurring at the first place.

Call (636) 660-7467 :: Experts in trench shoring and excavation projects. Quickly complete any job while meeting OSHA safety regulations. Trench shields & shoring equipment rental.

 

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At Luby Shoring Services, we use a variety of trench shoring techniques.

St Louis Trench Shoring

 

OSHA aims at providing safe working conditions which are conducive for the health of the workers. To achieve this, it sets and enforces standards, and provides training, education, and assistance to the construction workers. According to OSHA, excavating is one of the most dangerous construction operations, and it has set guidelines and procedures for safe excavation work.

What Is Trench Shoring

Shoring involves the use of shores or props to hold up or support some unstable or weak thing. When the workers are excavating shoring systems are used for the safety of the workers and to speed up the excavation work. This is known as trench shoring. St. Louis trench shoring services uses various techniques, which include some of the following.

Hydraulic Shoring And Its Advantages

Hydraulic shoring consists of using hydraulic pistons which are pumped outward till they press against the walls of the trench. Usually, prefabricated struts and aluminum or steel wale systems are used in this method.

Hydraulic shoring is very popular as it is faster and easier to use. Other methods are generally used for long term applications and larger excavations.

Reasons for the popularity of hydraulic shoring:

  • It is more safe than timber shoring. The workers need not go into the trench to install or to remove hydraulic shoring.
  • Hydraulic systems can be easily installed by a worker as they are light.
  • The pressure is evenly distributed along the trench because they are suitably gauge regulated.
  • The trench faces can be preloaded and the movement can be prevented by using the natural cohesion of the soil.
  • They can be used suitably for trenches of different widths and depths.

Some points to keep in mind while using hydraulic shoring:

  • Install the shoring from the top and remove from the bottom.
  • Check the shoring at least once in every shift. There may be leaking hoses or cylinders, cracked nipples, broken connections, bent bases, or any other defective parts which may need attention.

Pneumatic Shoring And Its Limitation

The other type of shoring is known as pneumatic shoring. It performs the same functions like the hydraulic shoring, except that it utilizes air pressure instead of hydraulic pressure.
The major limitation of this kind of shoring is that it requires an air compressor to work.

Screw Jacks May Be Dangerous

In the screw jack system the struts have to be adjusted manually. So the worker has to go into the trench to adjust it. This may be dangerous. Moreover, it is not possible to achieve uniform preloading with the heavy screw jacks.

Single Cylinder Hydraulic Shores

This type of shores are utilized in water systems to give support to the timber shoring, and to give face stability in shallow trenches.

Underpinning To Reinforce The Foundation

In this, the foundations, adjacent structures, and various intrusions which can influence the excavation work, are stabilized. Underpinning physically reinforces the foundation. But this kind of work requires the expert guidance of a well qualified engineer.

St. Louis Shoring Services

When it comes to excavating projects, rely on Luby Shoring’s expertise. We’ll help you complete any job quickly, while meeting OSHA safety regulations. Call us today at (636) 660-7467 or fill out our online contact form.

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